Roles of Regional and District Councils In regards to the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Roles of Regional and District Councils

In regards to the management of water

5 May 2014

Wgn_doc#1354127

OUTLINE

• Resource Management Act 1991
• Local Government Act 2002
• Health Act 1956
• Flood and River Management
• Integration, opportunities, prioritisation

Resource Management Act 1991

1. Purpose is to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources. 2. Sustainable management enables social, economic and cultural wellbeing, while a) Sustaining resources for needs of future generations b) Safeguarding life-supporting capacity and ecosystems c) Avoiding, remedying or mitigating adverse effects on the environment 3. It provides a decision-making framework

Regional Council Functions

Resource Management Act, Section 30

• Water quality and quantity
• Water takes, diversions and

damming

• Discharges to land and water
• Beds of lakes and rivers
• Coastal areas (below high tide)
• Land use for soil conservation,

water quality and quantity, aquatic ecosystems, natural hazards, hazardous substances

District Council Functions

Resource Management Act, Section 31

• Land use for development and

subdivision (above high tide)

• Land use in flood prone

areas

• Esplanade strips and

reserves

• Riparian set-backs

Local Government Act 2002

• Purpose is to provide for

democratic and effective local government, and

– Provide for provision of good-quality infrastructure within a sustainable development approach

• Budget and funding priorities
• Bylaws

Health Act 1956

• Duty to improve, promote, and protect

public health

• Provide drainage works, sewerage

works, and works for the disposal of sewage

• Provision of drinking water
• Preparation of Bylaws

Flood and River Management

Soil Conservation and River Control Act 1941, Land Drainage Act 1908 (both subject to RMA)

• River and Drainage Schemes, Floodplain

Management Plans

• Stopbanks, mouth cutting, barrage gates,

gravel removal

• Water races
• Drain clearing

Regional Council Functions

Local Government Act, Wellington Regional Water Board Act, Soil Conservation and River Control Act, Health Act

• Infrastructure for flood control
• Provision of community drinking

water

District Council Functions

Local Government Act, Health Act

• Infrastructure for stormwater,

town drinking water, sewage and water races

• Provision of community drinking

water

Other Stuff

• Treaty Settlements
• NZ Coastal Policy Statement 2010
• NES for Drinking Water 2007
• Conservation Act 1987
• Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996
• Biosecurity Act 1993

Challenge of managing water in an integrated manner

• Everything is connected to everything else –

ki uta ki tai

• Four Councils with separate and
• verlapping roles
• Multiple Acts, Regional Plan, District Plan,

Bylaws

• Need to identify common outcomes

Opportunities for the Whaitua Implementation Plan (WIP)

• Identify integrated solutions
• Recommend changes to Regional Plan
• Consider using District Plan provisions and

Bylaws

• Identify carrots as well as sticks

– Help prioritise incentives programmes